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This Coastal Airstream Road Trip Has Us California Day Dreamin’

airstream nest travel trailer
Airstream

If you could take just one epic road trip anywhere in the United States, Pacific Coast Highway 1 would be a damn-near-perfect choice. The iconic coastal highway is a symbol of California’s freewheelin’, outdoor-lovin’ lifestyle. For most of its 659 miles, it hugs the Left Coast, passing hundreds of the state’s best sites. This September, Satopia Travel is partnering with Airstream to tackle the best of the best on an exclusive California Dreamin’ Roadtrip.

The 11-day tour starts in Los Angeles, where a small group of 10 travelers will set out on a once-in-a-lifetime, self-drive road trip. Tour-goers will explore California’s most iconic natural wonders, including the desert majesty of Joshua Tree National Park and the raw, intense coastal beauty of Big Sur National Park. Other stops include two days experiencing the small-town charm of Ojai and Carmel. The tour also includes bespoke experiences like private hiking tours, local artist talks, a Hearst Castle Tour, and a secret forest supper under the stars prepared by a gourmet chef. 

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Naturally, a great American road trip deserves a great American road trip vehicle. Traveling couples will cruise the coast in style in a new Nest travel trailer provided by Airstream. While the RV’s fiberglass exterior is a far cry from the company’s classic silver bullet design, the upscale interior is all Airstream. Modern conveniences abound, including Tuft & Needle mattresses, high-end refrigerators, microwaves, stainless steel fixtures, a Bluetooth-controlled lighting system, and ample USB charging ports throughout.

The tour will be hosted by storyteller Laura Austin. The Colorado and Vermont native is now a dyed-in-the-wool Los Angeles local who knows the lay of the land inside and outside the city. She had a heavy hand in designing the trip’s itinerary to include her favorite off-the-beaten-track spots. She’s also a journalist and professional travel photographer and will share her passion and knowledge of visual storytelling with the group throughout the tour.

Pricing starts at $4,271 per person based on two travelers sharing a single trailer. The price includes a fully equipped Airstream Nest, campground fees, and most tour and experience costs. Tour-goers will also need to get to and from Los Angeles, plus secure a rental car with gas and insurance for the duration of the trip.

If you like your road tripping with less driving and more relaxing by the campfire, check out AutoCamp’s sophisticated, Airstream-centric glamping outpost just outside Yosemite National Park.

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
The Best Audiobooks for Road Trips
best audiobooks for road trips roadtrips 2021

So, you’re hitting the open road. Good call. These days, a good long road trip can feel like the safest way to travel, and it’s such a huge relief to be able to leave your house with your pod and just simply see something new. Still, long car trips can be hard for some people who want constant entertainment. 

And if you want entertainment, you’re in luck! Even if it’s not how you spend 100% of your time in the car, probably the best way to kill a few hours of the drive is with a great audiobook. Here are some of our favorites to pass the time as you hit the open road. 
On the Road
A natural choice for when you yourself are on the road, Jack Kerouac’s classic American novel follows the story of a man in the 1950s hitchhiking his way across the country and the grand and extraordinary cast of characters he meets along the way. At just under 12 hours, the audiobook is a completely manageable length. On a weeklong trip with just a couple hours of listening every day, it’s a great choice for life on the highway. 

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11 Sustainable Ways To Road-Trip This 2022

Seeking socially-distant ways to get out of the house after months of quarantine, families, couples, and solo travelers are piling into cars, RVs, and campers to hit the road, regain some semblance of normalcy for a short time, and reconnect with nature. 

Along with the cheap tchotchkes bought at roadside stops; pictures of hiking, fishing, and barbecuing; and happy memories, there is another souvenir we all bring back from a trip: A carbon footprint. No one wants to think about the fact that their much-looked-forward-to annual trip harms the environment and the places they visit, but it does. And although driving a car has less environmental impact than flying, it still leaves a mark. It’s not just the gas emissions -- there’s all the trash that’s produced from weeks on the road, too. But with a little advanced planning, there are numerous ways to make your road trip more sustainable. Here are some of the best ways to have a sustainable, eco-friendly road trip this 2022.
Pack Light and Smart
Weighing down your car with tons of luggage will reduce its efficiency and use up fuel faster, requiring more stops at gas stations. So be smart with your packing, and only pack the essentials while keeping things tight and efficient. 
Brings Reusable Water Bottles
This may seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how often it’s the smallest things that get forgotten at home. Bringing along reusable water bottles eliminates the need to constantly buy single-use water bottles at gas stations and grocery stores along the way. Plus, it’s healthier for you. Plastic water bottles left in warm cars can leach dangerous chemicals into the water. So make sure that reusable bottles are at the top of your do-not-forget list! 
Get Your Car Tuned Up
Another way to keep fuel costs and gas stops to a minimum is by making sure your car is tuned up and in tip-top shape before heading out. That means checking and tuning up the engine, ensuring that your tires are inflated to the correct pressure, and making sure that the gas cap screws on properly (missing or broken gas caps reduce fuel efficiency and release harmful fumes from your tank into the air). So give your vehicle a good checkup before heading out, and it will help both you and the environment.
Use Cruise Control
Make your gas last longer and take you farther by engaging cruise control while out on the highway, maintaining a steady, constant speed that will maximize your fuel consumption. Fewer fuel fill-ups mean fewer harmful emissions being sent out into the air. 
Plan Your Route in Advance
I know it’s not as fun as just hitting the road with a destination in mind and seeing where the highway takes you, but going on long-winded detours or constantly having to backtrack adds up to more fuel and emissions. Mapping and plotting your route in advance will save you gas and limit emissions.
Pack Reusable Bags and Containers
When you’re on a road trip, you’re constantly stopping in stores to pick up supplies, eating at diners and restaurants, and doing some fun souvenir shopping from time to time. All those plastic bags and to-go containers add up, so just make sure to bring your reusable bags to the grocery store. Don’t forget to bring them along on your road trip as well. That goes for food and storage containers, too -- less to-go styrofoam containers in landfills!

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The Must-Have Gear, Gadgets, and Tools for Your Next Road Trip

Since traditional travel has been a no-go for most Americans since the spring, 2020 has been a year of road-tripping and RV’ing unlike any other. You might be the kind of traveler who can hop in the car with zero planning and go where the wind takes you. But, if you’re not -- or even if you are -- a little pre-trip preparation goes a long way. Let’s round up our favorite must-have gadgets and tools for traveling comfortably and safely on your next winter road trip.
Sierra Designs Borrego Hybrid Jacket

Staying warm is important when road-tripping in winter. Having a cold-weather kit in your car -- with essentials like a first aid kit, extra food and water, and a camp quilt -- all the time is smart. We love the idea of keeping an extra layer in the back too. The new Borrego Hybrid Jacket from Sierra Designs is a perfect solution. The Primaloft Eco Silver insulated core is guaranteed to keep you warm, while four-way stretch panels allow you to move freely during the most active pursuits. Plus, it packs down extremely small and weighs just eight ounces, so you can tuck it in your car and practically forget it’s there until you need it.

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